Salvia plant named ‘Balyriclu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Salvia  plant named ‘Balyriclu’, characterized by its deep violet-blue colored flowers, green and light burgundy colored bracts, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Salvia×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balyriclu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant botanically known as Salvia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balyriclu’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during August 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Salvia cultivars having distinctive flower coloration with a mounded growth habit.

The new Salvia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Salvia×hybrida breeding selection designated 5999-1, not patented, characterized by its deep violet-blue colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is from a bulk pollen mix of five proprietary Salvia nemorosa breeding selections designated 6016, 6017, 6018, 6019, 6020, not patented, characterized by their rose to deep violet-blue colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded to upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during June 2004 in a controlled environment in Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2004 in Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balyriclu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant:

-   -   1. Deep violet-blue colored flowers;     -   2. Green and light burgundy colored bracts;     -   3. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   4. Moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in growth habit and from plants of the possible males in having a flower color and habit combination different from any possible male.

Of the many commercially available Salvia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘May Night’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘May Night’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a deeper flower color than         plants of ‘May Night’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a more mounded growth habit         than plants of ‘May Night’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a bract color different from         plants of ‘May Night’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balyriclu’. The plants were grown in 1-gallon pots for 18 weeks in a greenhouse in Elburn, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balyriclu’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Balyriclu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in June 2011 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in Elburn, Ill. in 1-gallon pots for 18 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 45° F. to 65° F. (7.2° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day and approximately 35° F. to 45° F. (1.7° C. to 7.2° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia×hybrida cultivar Balyriclu. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Salvia×hybrida breeding selection             designated 5999-1, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Bulk pollen mix of four proprietary Salvia             nemorosa breeding selections designated 6016, 6017, 6018,             6019, 6020, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous white to dark brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 12 to 16 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 31.0 cm. Width: Approximately 28.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Pinching enhances lateral             branching. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 11.         -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.             Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 12.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 3.2 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with             appressed, soft, short hairs. Color of young and mature             stems: 138A to 138B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per branch:             Approximately 8. Fragrance: Strong, sage-like. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute to perpendicular angle to stem. Shape:             Elliptic. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse to             cordate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 8.3 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             2.9 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Rugous, densely             pubescent. Color of upper surface of young and mature             foliage: 137B with venation of 145C. Color of lower surface             of young and mature foliage: Between 138A and 138B with             venation of 145C.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color:             145C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balyriclu’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions blooming from spring through             autumn and with limited flowering under short winter days in             a greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual floret.—Approximately 4 to 5 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Spikes in verticillaster             arrangement, florets in clusters of three, not persistent.             Quantity of inflorescences per plant: Approximately 23.             Fragrance: Faint, sweet. Length or height of inflorescence:             Approximately 13.0 cm. Width of inflorescence: Approximately             1.8 cm. Quantity of fully-open flowers per inflorescence:             Approximately 12 with up to 60 at peak flowering.         -   Peduncle.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Erect. Length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with             appressed, soft, short hairs. Color: 138A to 138B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Single, zygomorphic.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately             5.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely             pubescent. Color: calyx of 138A with venation of N187A;             petals of N89B.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Bilabiate, lower lip having three lobes,             based fused. Width: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length:             Approximately 0.7 mm. Depth: Approximately 1.1 cm.         -   Upper lip.—Shape: Hooded. Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded.             Length from throat: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color of inner             surface when first and fully open: N89D. Color of outer             surface when first and fully open: N89A.         -   Lower lip.—Shape of central lobe: Orbicular, cupped. Shape             of lateral lobes: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex of central             lobe: Emarginate. Apex of lateral lobes: Rounded. Length             from throat of central lobe: Approximately 3.0 mm. Width of             central lobe: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length from throat of             lateral lobes: Approximately 2.0 mm. Width of lateral lobes:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper             surface when first and fully open: N89A. Color of lower             surface when first and fully open: Lighter than N89C.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused. Shape: Elliptic.             Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent. Color of inner             surface: 138A. Color of outer surface: 138A with venation             and margins of 187A.         -   Bracts.—Quantity: One bract located at the base of floret             cluster. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width: Approximately             6.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous with densely pubescent margins.             Color of upper and lower surfaces: 138A with an overlay of             closest to N77B.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: At an acute             angle. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter: Less than             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 137A with an             overlay of 187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 2 per             flower, dorsifixed. Filament length: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Filament color: NN155C with a faint overlay of N89D, opaque.             Anther shape: Narrowly elliptic. Anther length: Less than             1.0 mm. Anther color: 199D. Pollen amount: None observed.             Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower, strongly curved.             Pistil length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,             two-parted. Stigma color: N89B. Style length: Approximately             6.0 mm. Style color: NN155C with a faint overlay of N89D,             opaque. Ovary length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color:             144C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Salvia has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named ‘Balyriclu’, substantially as herein shown and described. 